Portable trash receptacle

ABSTRACT

A portable apparatus for holding a plastic bag. The portable apparatus comprises a base member which includes at least two substantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposed support members. A pair of upstanding leg members is connected closely adjacent a first end thereof to the base member closely adjacent a back portion thereof. A brace member is disposed substantially horizontally and connected closely adjacent a second end of the pair of upstanding leg members. There is at least two substantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposed arm members connected at a first end thereof closely adjacent one of a second end of a respective one of such pair of upstanding leg members and closely adjacent each end of such brace member. Further, there is a means engageable with at least one of the at least two arm members and the second end of such pair of upstanding leg members for holding such plastic bag.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/652,398 filed Feb. 10, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a trash receptacle, and,more specifically the present invention relates to a portable trashreceptacle that provides for the re-use of plastic grocery bags fortrash disposal for home or office.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a variety of trash bag holders that are presently available onhe market. The majority of these trash bag holders are primarily garbagetype cans in which plastic bags fit into the can, are filled and thendisposed of.

Presently most groceries are purchased and are carried home from thesupermarket packed in plastic bags. The number of these bags that atypical home acquires in a weekly shopping order can be significant. Itwould be highly desirable if these bags could be used as trash bags andin that way these bags would essentially be recycled by serving anotherpurpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention provides a portable apparatus for holding aplastic bag. The portable apparatus comprises a base member, such basemember includes at least two substantially parallel and substantiallyhorizontally disposed support members. There is a pair of upstanding legmembers connected closely adjacent a first end thereof to the basemember closely adjacent a back portion thereof and at least one bracemember disposed substantially horizontally and connected closelyadjacent a second end of the pair of upstanding leg members. There is atleast two substantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposedarm members connected at a first end thereof closely adjacent one of asecond end of a respective one of such pair of upstanding leg membersand closely adjacent each end of such at least one brace member.Further, there is a means engageable with at least one of the at leasttwo substantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposed armmembers and the second end of such pair of upstanding leg members forholding such plastic bag.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention toprovide an apparatus for using grocery bags for a trash receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus thatis portable.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusthat is easy to construct.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portableapparatus that is inexpensive to manufacture.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent after a full reading of the following detaileddescription, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attacheddrawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable apparatus as it would beconfigured holding a grocery bag according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable apparatus according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the apparatus show in FIG. 2 showing theparts of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable apparatus according toanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the apparatus show in FIG. 4 showing theparts of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the portable apparatus according to yetanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the apparatus show in FIG. 6 showing theparts of the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTSOF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the presentinvention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identicalcomponents which have identical functions have been designated byidentical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated inthe drawings.

Thus, the present invention provides a portable apparatus, generallydesignated as 10, for holding a plastic bag, such as a grocery bag. Theportable apparatus comprises a base member, generally designated 20,such base member 20 includes at least two substantially parallel andsubstantially horizontally disposed support members 2. There is a pairof upstanding leg members 4 connected closely adjacent a first endthereof to the base member 20 closely adjacent a back portion thereofand at least one brace member 6 disposed substantially horizontally andconnected closely adjacent a second end of the pair of upstanding legmembers 4. There is at least two substantially parallel andsubstantially horizontally disposed arm members 8 connected at a firstend thereof closely adjacent one of a second end of a respective one ofsuch pair of upstanding leg members 4 and closely adjacent each end ofsuch at least one brace member 6. Further, there is a means, generallydesignated 30, engageable with at least one of the at least twosubstantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposed armmembers 8 and the second end of such pair of upstanding leg members 4for holding such plastic bag.

Such portable apparatus 10 can be formed of a variety of materials suchas plastic, steel, aluminum or tinplate. Such portable apparatus canalso be formed in a variety of configurations such as being tubular orsquare or a variety of different shapes for the parts of the apparatus10.

In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, such portable apparatus 10 istubular. In this embodiment each of the pair of upstanding leg members 4are formed to include a portion of the brace member 6. The pair ofupstanding leg members 4 with the portion of the brace member 6 formedtherein are telescopically secured to each other as a single unit.

The at least two substantially parallel and substantially horizontallydisposed arm members 8 are engageable with the pair of upstanding legmembers 4 with the portion of the brace member 6 formed therewithclosely adjacent an arcuate corner thereof. The means 30 consists ofprojections 12 extending outwardly from each of a first end and a secondend of the at least two substantially parallel and substantiallyhorizontally disposed arm members 8.

In this embodiment each of the at least two substantially parallel andsubstantially horizontally disposed support members 2 of the base member20 further include a pad member 14. Such pad member 14 is used to sit onthe floor and is formed of one of plastic, wood and rubber so as to notmar the floor. Such pad member 14 is secured to said each of the atleast two substantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposedsupport members 2 by means of one of bolts and screws. Such bolts and orscrew would be recessed so as to not mar the floor.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, such base member 20 ofsuch portable apparatus 10 further includes two horizontally disposedsubstantially parallel support members 16 disposed substantiallyperpendicular to each end of the at least two substantially horizontallydisposed support members 2 thereby forming a substantially rectangularbase member 20.

The substantially rectangular base member 20 further includes a pair ofupright posts 18. Each of the pair of upright posts 18 are disposedclosely adjacent a corner on a same length side of the substantiallyrectangular base member 20. Such pair of upright posts 18 are forengagement with the pair of upstanding leg members 4. The pair ofupstanding leg members 4 having a hollow portion formed therein forengagement with the pair of upright posts 18.

In this embodiment the at least two substantially parallel andsubstantially horizontally disposed arm members 8 have an aperturedisposed closely adjacent a first end thereof for securing the at leasttwo substantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposed armmembers 8 to a second end of the pair of upstanding leg members 4.Further, in this embodiment the brace member 6 is formed as part of atleast two substantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposedarm members 8.

The means 30 consist of projections 12 that extend outwardly from thesecond end of the pair of upstanding leg members 4 and from a second endof the at least two substantially parallel and substantiallyhorizontally disposed arm members 8.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, suchbase member 20 of such portable apparatus 10 further includes a footmember 22 disposed substantially perpendicular and engageable with aback end of the at least two substantially horizontally disposed supportmembers 2. Such foot member 22 further includes an aperture formed oneach end of such foot member 22 closely adjacent a corner engagementwith the back end of the at least two substantially horizontallydisposed support members 2.

Such pair of upstanding leg members 4 further include a projection 24disposed on a first end thereof for engagement with the aperture formedin foot member 22 of the base member 20. In this embodiment it ispreferred that such at least two upstanding leg members 4, such two armmembers 8 and such at least one brace member 6 are formed as a singleunit.

FIG. 1 shows the portable apparatus 10 with a grocery bag connectedthereto for use as a trash receptacle. Such portable apparatus 10 withsuch grocery bag attached has been tested to easily hold up to 10 poundsof trash.

While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of thepresent invention has been described in detail above, it should beunderstood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of theinvention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled inthe art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or thescope of the appended claims.

1. A portable apparatus for holding a plastic bag, said portableapparatus comprising: (a) a base member, said base member including atleast two substantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposedsupport members; (b) a pair of upstanding leg members connected closelyadjacent a first end thereof to said base member closely adjacent a backportion thereof; (c) at least one brace member disposed substantiallyhorizontally and connected closely adjacent a second end of said pair ofupstanding leg members; (d) at least two substantially parallel andsubstantially horizontally disposed arm members connected at a first endthereof closely adjacent one of a second end of a respective one of saidpair of upstanding leg members and closely adjacent each end of said atleast one brace member; and (e) a means engageable with at least one ofsaid at least two substantially parallel and substantially horizontallydisposed arm members and said second end of said pair of upstanding legmembers for holding such plastic bag.
 2. The portable apparatus,according to claim 1, wherein said base member further includes twohorizontally disposed substantially parallel support members disposedsubstantially perpendicular to each end of said at least twosubstantially horizontally disposed support members thereby forming asubstantially rectangular base member.
 3. The portable apparatus,according to claim 2, wherein said substantially rectangular base memberfurther includes a pair of upright posts each of said pair of uprightposts disposed closely adjacent a corner on a same length side of saidsubstantially rectangular base member.
 4. The portable apparatus,according to claim 3, wherein said pair of upright posts are forengagement with said pair of upstanding leg members, said pair ofupstanding leg members having a hollow portion formed therein forengagement with said pair of upright posts.
 5. The portable apparatus,according to claim 4, wherein said at least two substantially paralleland substantially horizontally disposed arm members have an aperturedisposed closely adjacent a first end thereof for securing said at leasttwo substantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposed armmembers to a second end of said pair of upstanding leg members.
 6. Theportable apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said brace member isformed as part of said at least two substantially parallel andsubstantially horizontally disposed arm members.
 7. The portableapparatus, according to claim 6, wherein said means consists ofprojections extending outwardly from said second end of said pair ofupstanding leg members and from a second end of said at least twosubstantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposed armmembers.
 8. The portable apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein eachof said pair of upstanding leg members are formed to include a portionof said brace member, said pair of upstanding leg members with saidportion of said brace member formed therein are telescopically securedto each other as a single unit.
 9. The portable apparatus, according toclaim 8, wherein said at least two substantially parallel andsubstantially horizontally disposed arm members are engageable with saidpair of upstanding leg members with said portion of said brace memberformed therewith closely adjacent an arcuate corner thereof.
 10. Theportable apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said means consists ofprojections extending outwardly from each of a first end and a secondend of said at least two substantially parallel and substantiallyhorizontally disposed arm members.
 11. The portable apparatus, accordingto claim 1, wherein each of said at least two substantially parallel andsubstantially horizontally disposed support members of said base memberfurther include a pad member.
 12. The portable apparatus, according toclaim 11, wherein said pad member is secured to said each of said atleast two substantially parallel and substantially horizontally disposedsupport members by means of one of bolts and screws.
 13. The portableapparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said pad member is formed ofone of plastic, wood and rubber.
 14. The portable apparatus, accordingto claim 1, wherein said base member further includes a foot memberdisposed substantially perpendicular and engageable with a back end ofsaid at least two substantially horizontally disposed support members.15. The portable apparatus, according to claim 14, wherein said footmember further includes an aperture formed on each end of said footmember closely adjacent a corner engagement with said back end of saidat least two substantially horizontally disposed support members. 16.The portable apparatus, according to claim 15, wherein each of said pairof upstanding leg members further includes a projection disposed on afirst end thereof for engagement with said aperture formed on said footmember of said base member.
 17. The portable apparatus, according toclaim 1, wherein said at least two upstanding members, said at least twoarm members and said at least one brace member are formed as a singleunit.
 18. The portable apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein saidportable apparatus is formed of one of steel, aluminum, tinplate,plastic or combinations thereof.
 19. The portable apparatus, accordingto claim 1, wherein said portable apparatus can be configured whereinsaid parts of said apparatus are one of tubular and square columns. 20.The portable apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein handles of suchplastic bags loop over said means to hold such plastic bags in place.